What application is using a particular file?

Question

I have some FileMaker databases being served for dev purposes and I keep bumping into occurrences where the database/file is locked and I can't make changes to it.

How can I determine what application is touching/using this file so I can kill it?

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 11 '12 at 20:22

1

Have you tried using the terminal command

$ lsof 'Filename'

For a more detailed look at the file use

$ lsof | grep -f 'Filename'

Should give you the command that is using it and also the PID of that file

answered Oct 11 '12 at 20:22

tron_jones

159

The file is named Data.fmp12, so when I cd into that directory and run lsof 'Data.fmp12', the terminal pauses a moment and then just displays another blank command prompt – SWL Oct 12 '12 at 16:25
lsof without sudo may not produce the required output. – Graham Perrin Jul 16 '14 at 19:03

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 12 '12 at 19:14

0

Try adding sudo. I set up a similar setup with the same file name, it would only appear if the file was open somewhere in a application. It didn't show up until I added the sudo tough.

sudo lsof | grep /path/to/file/Data.fmp12

answered Oct 12 '12 at 19:14

tron_jones

159

What application is using a particular file?

2 Answers2